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    MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016 WWW.BDAFRICA.COM KSH60 | TZ SH 1,700 | UGSH2,700NO. 2366

    Rotich moves to ceate sicollateal egiste fo bMove aims to makeit easy for borrowersto transfer loansfrom one lender toanother and cut costs

    Keosene taxncease looms

    s MPs ghtpetol dilution

    DWIN MUTAI

    iament has recommended a steepease in kerosene taxes to elimi-

    its use in the adulteration ofoleum.The move is bound to hurt poorseholds that rely on kerosene tok food and light up their homes.The punitive move was taken afterNational Assemblys Energy com-tee learnt that Kenya has lost 100cent of the Rwandan petroleumort market and 30 per cent of theandan market because of rampantlteration.The committee said Kenyas losss share of the fuel market in the

    ghbouring countries to Tanzania isnly the result of pricing differenc-etween petroleum and keroseneiesel. Tanzania has same priceshe three commodities.The pricing is because of the dif-nce in fuel taxes for diesel and ker-ne and we should therefore con-r reviewing it, Jackson Kiptanui,

    vice chair of the Energy commit-told the Budget Committee, whileenting the 2016/17 budget reporthe Ministry of Energy andPetroleum. Mr Kiptanui said Ken-eeded to make KEROSENE, Page 4

    BY GEORGE NGIGI

    The Treasury has published a Bill creat-ing a single electronic registry for mo-tor vehicle logbooks and other movableassets used as security for bank loans aiming to make it easier for borrowersto maximise the use of such collateral.

    A centralised registry is the govern-ments answer to the difficulties facing

    borrowers seeking to realise full value of

    assets that remain in the h bank they borrowed from i

    Borrowers, who curretor vehicles as security, fhave to transfer ownershito the bank and deposit th

    which is evidence of ownthe lender.

    The cost of transferrinship at the Kenya Revenu(KRA) registry COTreasury secretary Henry Rotich. FILE

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    BUSINE SS DAILY | Monday June 6, 2016

    onday, June 6, 2016

    KF Kenya pre-budget tax briengF Kenya will hold a pre-budget mediaeng to address various tax issues relatedhe budget proposal. Among the issues2016/17 budget is expected to address

    he directive by President Uhuru Kenyattampting low income earners from payinges on bonuses, overtime and retirementets.

    kenya Daima initiative brienge platform that brings together differentkeholders such as the private sector, civiliety, religious groups, university studentders, Vision 2030, NCIC among others willue an update of their views on the currentitical climate in the country.e political scene is currently dominatedhe calls by the Cord coalition for the

    moval from ofce of IEBC commissioners,h the coalition holding a series of

    monstrations on Mondays to press for themmissioners exit.

    Liquid Telecom hosts seminarThe event will bring together leadingtechnology experts to discuss the latestnetwork industry trends and standards andtheir implications for enterprise and carriercustomers.

    Tuesday, June 7

    Parliament resumes sittingsThe National Assembly resumes sitting aftera one month recess. The key agenda for theHouse is the budget and the accompanyingBills, and it is also expected to pass the lastbatch of Bills needed to fully operationalisethe 2010 Constitution ahead of the August27 deadline.

    World Bank open dayThe World Bank will hold its open dayat Nairobi Club. At the event, membersof public will interact with senior WorldBank staff including the country director,programme leaders, economists and otherofcers who implement the World Bankfunded projects.

    IFC and Media Council hostcorporate governance summitThe International Finance Corporation (IFC)and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK)open the rst corporate governance mediareporting conference in Kenya whichaims to aims to strengthen t he mediasunderstanding of corporate governance.

    Thursday, June 9

    Budget reading dayTreasury secretary Henry Rotich presentsthe 2016/17 budget before Parliament.The country is expected to push resourcestowards the social sectors of education andhealth, as well as capital investments inenergy, infrastructure and ICT.Kenyans will also be keen to see t he taxmeasures to be taken by the NationalTreasury for the new scal year, given thattax revenues are likely to fall below target forthe current scal year.

    Centum releases full- year resultsListed investment rm Centum will onWednesday release its full year to March2016 nancial results.The companys after-tax earnings for thesix months to September 2015 increased toSh1.9 billion from the Sh1.23 billion it postedduring a similar period the previous year.

    African food summit opensThe summit which will run betweenJune 8 and 10 will bring together foodand beverage manufacturers andpackers, suppliers, technology providers,researchers, regulatory and policy makersfrom sub-Sahara Africa.

    Friday, June 10

    Euro championship kicks off The 15th edition of t he UEFA EuropeanChampionship, commonly referred to asEuro 2016 kicks off in France.The popular 24-team championship whichruns for a month will provide a boost to thecoffers of local entertainment joints and pay

    TV providers as fans loothe football action.

    CFC Stanbic, Total hCfC Stanbic, Total KenyGroup will all hold theirmeetings on Friday.Totals AGM comes wheof taking over the businepetroleum importer, Gul

    (that trades locally as Gawill see the French oil gicapacity to 177 million l52 million, leaving it at 1more than second-ranke

    KenGen rights issue The KenGen Sh28.8 billhas been on sale since MFriday. A total of 4.4 billon offer at a price of Sh6an entitlement ratio of twshare held. The announcresults is set for July 1, wcommencement of tradinthe NSE will be on July

    What is making news this week

    GITONGA MARETE

    all and Micro-Enterprises (SMEs)uld benchmark with their peersm other parts of the country in ordermprove their systems and upscaledards, Mombasa-based entrepre-rs have been told.Participating in the annual Top 100

    d-Sized Companies survey wouldble them to reap the benets of net-king with people of similar goals and

    ke them part of a networkoffers members invalu-

    e insights in the world ofrprise, Business Daily

    naging editor Ochienguro said.Mr Rapuro said a numberromising businesses wereng away from entering

    competition fearing visitsm the taxman, a fear he de-bed as unfounded becauseicipants are compliant

    h most of the tax agencysmands and ready for scrutiny One of the requirements for partici-ng in this survey is submission ofe years audited accounts, meaning

    mpliance with one of the most impor-tax obligations, he said.Companies with three-year auditedounts have put their processes in or-after being audited by a member ofICPAK (Institute of Certied Publicountants of Kenya). I think these are

    people who should be less concerned

    about the taxman, he added.Mr Rapuro spoke on Friday at Ser-

    ena Beach Resort during the MombasaCounty launch of this years Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies survey.

    Out of the about 1,000 entries that aresubmitted for the survey which is in itsninth year, there are thousands more outthere who stay out because they cannotstand the test of scrutiny that goes withthe survey, Mr Rapuro noted.

    He, however, said those who have hadthe courage to come out inthe open have gained fromthe survey, including in-creased media exposure, highlevel recognition by partnersand consumer trust.

    An initiative of consult-ing rm KPMG and the Na-tion Media Group, the sur-

    vey tracks SMEs with annu-al turnover of between Sh70million and Sh1 billion withthose exceeding the Sh1 bil-lion mark joining Club 101.

    Rose Lutta, the NMG marketing direc-tor, said the survey proles and celebratesexcellence in the SME sector, which ac-counts for more than half of the jobs inthe country.

    As organisers of the survey we feltit is important to showcase, to motivateand to grow the number of people com-ing into the SME market and we will con-tinue to give them an opportunity to growtheir businesses, she said.

    The survey has also launched a mar-

    keting portal for participating, the Top100 Market Place, which will be used bycompanies to share information and ex-periences, she added.

    Success storiesLast year, the survey ranked top a Mom-

    basa-based pharmaceutical company,Pharmaken, co-owned by two directorsSamier Muravvej and Leonard Njagi, asthe most innovative and fastest growingcompany.

    The 2016 Survey which was officiallylaunched on May 17 is scheduled to closeon 31 August with data collection from in-terested companies having commenced

    on May 23.Those attending the launch got to hear

    from their fellow entrepreneurs includ-ing Dr Muravvej.

    Other entrepreneurs who shared theirsuccess stories were Mohammed Jamaof Logistic Solutions Ltd, Julie Munyi,(United (EA) Warehouses Limited) andIvan Patrick De Souza of Coast Industrial& Safety Supplies Limited.

    Participating in the survey last year when we were ranked 29th was an excit-ing and wonderful experience for us and

    what I would say is that as a company, we will never be the same, said Ms Munyi,the operations manager at United (EA)

    Warehouses Limited.Entrepreneurs who have

    nised through this survey hato how this recognition cataformation of their businessenue that positioned them tinvestment or acquisition.

    Some of the benets that tcompanies enjoy are foruhosted by the sponsors ofin addition to those by th KPMG and NMG.

    The forums support netw building of relationships whto every business.

    [email protected]

    Benchmak with pees, foum tells small ente

    OP NEWS

    Local entrepreneurs and business leaders listen to a presentation at Serena Beach Resort during the launch of the Top 100 Mid-sizedcompanies survey 2016 in Mombasa. WACHIRA MWANGI

    Companies with thee-yea

    audited accounts have put thei pocesses in

    ode

    OCHIENG RAPURO, MANAGING

    EDITOR, BUSINESS DAILY

    TOP 100 Editor challenges entrepreneurs toarticipate in annual survey to build networks

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    Monday June 6, 2016 | BUSINES

    Corruption has always been in ex-istence in one form or another. As far back as the 4th century,a famous scholar, wrote, Just as shmoving inside water cannot be knownwhen drinking water, even so officersappointed for carrying out workscannot be known when appropriat-ing money.

    I will start this article by telling astory about a certain country whichwill remain unnamed but the messageof which we as a countrycan also very much re-late to.

    An MP of a governingparty during his speech inparliament: There was afather who gave Sh100 eachto his three sons and askedthem to buy things andll up a room completely.The rst son bought hayfor Sh100 but couldntll the room entirely. Thesecond son bought cottonfor Sh100 but couldnt

    ll the room entirely.The third son bought a candle for Sh1and lit it up and the room was lledwith light completely.

    The MP added, The governingparty is like the third son. Since theday we have taken charge of office, our

    country is lled with the bright lightof prosperity.

    A voice from the backbench asked:Thats all very good...but where is theremaining Sh99?

    Corruption can be broadly catego-rised into: political corruption, admin-istrative corruption, grand corruptionand petty corruption.

    We will examine the main causesof and issues related to corruption intax administration, the impact of cor-

    ruption on the economyand the suggested policymeasures for combatingcorruption in tax admin-istration.

    A variety of factors con-tribute to corruption in taxadministration.

    These include the com-plexity of tax laws and pro-cedures, the monopolypower and discretion oftax officials, the lack of ef-fective monitoring and su-pervision, overall govern-

    ment environment and thecommitment of political leadership.Corruption drastically reduces tax

    revenues, forcing the government tond other means for nancing theirexpenditure, including borrowing bothdomestically and internationally. Fu-

    ture scal exibility is reduced, becauseservicing of debt has to be given pri-ority over other critical expenditures.This creates a vicious circle endanger-ing scal sustainability.

    Evade taxes

    Corruption is like cancer as it breedsfurther corruption that is, corrup-tion may corrupt. Collusion betweencorrupt taxpayers and corrupt tax of-

    cials puts honest taxpayers at a dis-advantage, encouraging them to evadetaxes in order to compete.

    Corruption adversely affects invest-ment and growth. Widespread corrup-tion leads to reduction in both foreignand domestic investment.

    Some policy measures that could be adopted include rationalising thetax system with further simplied taxlaws. The design of the tax structureshould be as broad as possible. The goalshould be to have as many tax payersas possible in the tax net. The jua kali(informal) sector needs to be broughtinto the net.

    The tax authority also needs to in- vest in continuous training of tax offi-

    cials as it is not uncommon to receivetax demands which are both frivolousand incorrect.

    Make tax officials accountable andsalaries competitive. The lifestyle au-dits currently being conducted bythe Kenya Revenue Authority are a

    good start and should be p with vigour.

    Provide tax officers withics training.

    At the national level, our has already declared that ghruption is his number one prio

    Independent commissioncorruption, which carry out intive, preventive and commufunctions, have proved a reso

    success in ghting corruptioncountries.There is a challenge for ou

    and Anti- Corruption Commi

    The writer is Deloitte East Afr Audit Partner.

    TOP

    How to win the waagainst gaft in taxadministation

    ETHICS Effective anti-corruption strategy should include casting the tax net wider, lifestlyle audits and invesme

    Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General John Njiraini speaks during a media brieng. FILE

    R A D A R S C R E E N I Q B A L P. K A R I M

    Couptiondastically educes

    tax evenues, focing the

    govenment to nd othe means fo nancing thei

    expenditue

    Catholic bishops face sack fo mishandling abuse unde pae Francis has approved measures to

    k bishops who mishandle child sexualse cases, a papal decree says.Bishops who are negligent in deal-with priests committing abuse willemoved under the new legal proce-es.The decree comes in response to long-ning demands by abuse victims andr supporters to hold bishops account-if they fail to protect their ocks from

    dophiles.Existing laws relating to abuse cases

    uld be tightened, the Pope said.He acknowledged that canon law al-dy allows for a bishop to be removednegligence but says he wants a morecise denition of the grave reasonscould lead to dismissal.

    Some bishops have covered up abuse by transferring perpetrators from par-ish to parish rather than reporting themto police. Pope Francis set up a Vaticancommission to establish best practicein relation to abuse cases and expose

    wrongdoing in parishes in 2014.The pontiff tweeted on Saturday: Let

    us hear the cry of the victims and thosesuffering, no family without a home, nochild without a childhood.

    The Roman Catholic Church has formuch of the last 15 years been forcedon the defensive by scandals involvingpriests who are alleged to have abusedchildren and then been transferred ratherthan handed over to the authorities.

    Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pelladmitted in March he did not act after a

    boy told him about a paedophile priest.The cardinal told an Australian Royal

    Commission into child abuse that a stu-

    dent at St Patricks College in Ballaratsaid Brother Edward Dowlan was mis-

    behaving with boys in 1974.

    He said it was casuallyand the boy did not ask him

    Dowlan, who has sincename to Ted Bales, was jailedabusing boys in the 1970s a

    Cardinal Pell was givfrom Rome to the Royal into Institutional ResponsSex Abuse.

    He was excused from Australia due to a heart cond

    A group of abuse survivporters have own to Ro

    Australias most senior Catesties. Peter Blenkiron

    by Brother Dowlan and spafter the cardinal admittedhave done more about thepriest. -BBC

    Pope Francis leads a mass at St Peters Basilica at the Vatican. FILE

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    BUSINE SS DAILY | Monday June 6, 2016

    prices of kerosene anddiesel at par to ensure

    petroleum dealers dont make anyns by mixing the two.The Energy Regulatory CommissionC) on May 14, 2016 set the prices ofoleum products, pushing up thee of a litre of kerosene by Sh3.02 to6.98 while diesel rose to Sh70.37 up

    m Sh66.23 last month.The pump price differences arise fromfact that kerosene is charged excisey of Sh5.75 a litre, diesel Sh8.24 whi leol is levied Sh19.89 per litre.Diesel and petrol also attract a roady charge of Sh9 a litre that does notly to kerosene.Low priced kerosene, though good formillions of poor households that user heating and lighting, has becomemeans by which unscrupulous trad-dulterate petroleum to increase their

    t margins.The ERC late last year reintroduced

    tax on kerosene after President UhuruKenyatta assented to the Excise DutyBill which increased levies on itemslike water, beer, cigarettes, juices andused cars.

    The move, however, fell short of de -mands by the Petroleum Institute of East

    Africa (PIEA) the oil dealers lobby to remove kerosene subsidy because

    of its use to adulterate the more expen-sive petrol and diesel.

    PIEA has been lobbying the Treasuryto increase kerosene taxes to the level ofpetroleum, but the government has beenhesitant because of its possible impacton poor households.

    Parliaments bid to have kerosene anddiesel taxes reviewed appears to be inline with the oil dealers lobby who feelthe Sh5.75 kerosene tax is not enoughto bridge the gap between it and dieselor petrol.

    If the price of diesel and kerosene arethe same, no petroleum dealer will be

    tempted to mix the two, said Mr Kipt-anui. The total value of Kenyas exportof petroleum products rose 12 per centto 59.5 billion in 2015, while that of re-exports rose by 12.3 per cent to Sh59.5

    billion, according to the 2016 EconomySurvey.

    Kenyas loss of the Rwandan mar-ket and a large portion of the Ugandanmarket to fuel adulteration means East

    Africas largest economy faces a bleakfuture with no growth in petroleumexports.

    Petroleum adulteration is the act ofmixing diesel with kerosene or superpetrol with kerosene to take advantageof the lower taxes on kerosene.

    It has in the past forced ERC to pro- vide petroleum retailers with special self-test kits, dubbed lateral ow devices, inan effort to tame rogue traders.

    The energy regulator in March

    cracked down on a number of petro-leum companies whose retail stations

    were found selling adulterated fuel.More than 27 petrol stations were

    shut down after they were found sellingadulterated petroleum or diverting fuelmeant for export to the local market.

    Seven station were shut down inMeru, ve in Kakamega. Dealers inKericho, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi,Mombasa, Migori, Siaya, Muranga,Bomet, Kisumu and Kisii counties alsosuffered a similar fate.

    The stations affected were among the1,493 petroleum outlets whose products

    were tested for quality.The regulator slapped

    mostly small dealers, for dimeant for neighbouring countries for sale in the Kket. Petroleum meant for etaxed locally.

    The taxman has been loas a result of diversion of e

    ucts into the local market, owners have suffered the mto their car engines arising petrol mixed with other add

    The Mutava Musyimi-lmeets this morning to prepreport on the 2016/17 budgahead of tabling tomorrowliament reconvenes from arecess. Treasury secretaryich will present the Budgeon Thursday.

    [email protected]

    Keosene tax incease looms as MPs ght petol dm Page 1

    Buying fuel. FILE

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    Monday June 6, 2016 | BUSINES

    NEVILLE OTUKI

    nya has slipped one position to beked as the 11th largest hydropowerducer in Africa as Ethiopia poweredosition two.The installed hydropower capacity

    he country grew six megawatts toMW last year, allowing South Af-to dislodge it from the top 10 list,

    port by Britain-based Internationaldropower Association shows.Kenya has in recent years turned itsus to geothermal energy to cut reli-e on weather-dependent hydropow-nd expensive diesel generators.Dependence on hydropower has inpast subjected Kenyan consum-to heavy electricity bills during

    droughts when expensive diesel gen-erators are ramped up. Egypt is the tophydro-power producer in Africa withan installed capac ity of 2,800MW, fol-lowed by Ethiopia (2,552MW)whichmoved from position ve last yearandDRC Congo (2,495 MW).

    Cheapest sourceZambia had 2,272MW of hydro whileSouth Africa (2,251 MW) was fth, hav-ing jumped from position 15 last year.

    Hydropower accounts for thesecond largest share (35.1 per cent)of Kenyas total power capacity thatstands at 2,333 megawatts. Expensivethermal power ranks rst at 35.7 percent, while geothermal energy is thirdat 26.8 per cent.

    Hydropower is Kenyas cheapestsource at Sh3 per kilowatt hour, geo-thermal comes at Sh7 per unit while aunit of thermal power goes for Sh18.

    Thermal electricity is only connect-ed to the national grid after supply ofcheaper hydro-electric and geothermalelectricity has been exhausted, oftenduring peak demand.

    In East Africa, Kenya emerged top,followed by Uganda (706 MW) and Tan-zania (562 MW) which took positions15 and 17 respectively.

    Rwanda was ranked at 28 with99MW hydropower while Burundi hada hydropower capacity of 66MW.

    The report says for full benets,countries need to create power poolsto trade electricity.

    Kenya dops fom top 10 hydopowe nations

    ECONOMY & POLITICSEWS I REVIEWS I ANALYSIS

    BY KIARIE NJOROGE

    City Hall plans to hand out another ofits prime estates to a pension scheme aspart of the county governments plan toreduce its Sh45 billion debt.

    The countys debt management strat-egy paper indicates that the city govern-ment has entered into negotiations withLocal Authorities Pension Trust (Lap-trust) for the transfer to cover the amountit owes.

    The paper did not specify how muchLaptrust is currently owed and countyofficials had not responded by the time ofgoing to press. Last June, City Hall owedLaptrust Sh5 billion.

    This is the second suchtransaction with the coun-ty government having trans-ferred the Mariakani Estateto Local Authorities PensionFund in early 2013. However,the deal has since been chal-lenged in court.

    To settle this amountthe county is entering intonegotiations to transfer tothe scheme one of our primeasset/ estate, the debt paperreleased last week says.

    The agreed estate will be valued bythree professional valuers including thegovernment in order to establish the cor-rect value.

    The county owns tens of estates withmost featuring dilapidated houses thatare ripe for redevelopment.

    The estates are occupied by countyemployees or those they have let out toat rents well below the market rates ar-

    rangements that might be unew landlords. Among thecounty owns are those in BahLandhies Road, Joseph Kangmbee, Mbotela, New PumwKaloleni, Uhuru, and Emba

    Others are in MaringoJericho, Lumumba, Ofafa aPangani, Jevanjee, BacheloJamhuri, Kabete, Juja RoadKariobangi South, Hurumaing.

    County nance execuMwakanongo did not respqueries on which estate wassidered for the transaction.

    Hosea Kitive of CPF Fiadministers La

    Business Dail ware of the sw

    I haventhing like thaare planning tothe proposal,

    Overall, ternments debSh42.3 billionlion mostly d

    bank loans anutory dues.

    The county has occasionshort-term loans from commto address shorter cash owsues, the paper says.

    The paper notes that thdebts have made suppliers aprices upwards in anticipatiopayments. This is continualing the city governments capservices to city residents.

    City Hall plans to pension scheme an pime estate in deb

    Some of the dilapidated Nairobi County-owned houses in Shauri Moyo Estate.

    I havent eceivedanything like

    that. Maybe theyae planning to

    seve us with the poposal

    HOSEA KILI, CHIEF EXECUTIVE,

    CPF FINANCIALS

    Kenya Powe ejects KenGenbid to aise electicity taiffs

    NEVILLE OTUKI

    nya Power has signalled a row withnya Electricity Generating CompanynGen) after insisting it will not backs to increase the price at which thetricity distributor buys hydropowercould trigger higher bills for homesbusinesses.KenGen has sought approval fromEnergy Regulatory CommissionC) to raise the tariffs for its majorropower plants with an installed ca-ty of 765 megawatts or 47 per cent of

    rms total power capacity.But Kenya Power says that KenGens not deserve an increment and

    missed the electricity generatorsm that it needs compensation forexpansion of its hydro plants. Theff cannot be reviewed because theting infrastructure has been paid

    and there has been enough water indams for the last three years, saidf executive Ben Chumo.The government has also opposed

    nya Powers quest to increase retailffs, arguing that it goes against thecy of delivering cheap electricityded to ease the burden on house-ds and make Kenya a competitiventry.

    KenGen managing director AlbertMugo said the proposed tariff incrementis informed by recent expansion of thecompanys hydropower capacity and theneed to deliver returns to shareholdersof the Nairobi bourse listed rm.

    When we signed the PPA (powerpurchase agreement) in 2009 there wasa projection for capacity increase, givingroom to revise the rates, he said withoutgiving detail of the gures.

    Mr Mugo cited Kindaruma hydro-power station, whose power capacityhas increased from 48 megawatts to 72megawatts over the period.

    KenGen is seeking higher wholesaletariff for Seven Forks Hydro stationson Tana River, which includes Masingapower station (40 megawatts), Kambu-ru (94 megawatts), Gitaru (225 mega-

    watts), Kindaruma (72 megawatts) andKiambere (168 megawatts).

    Others are Turkwel power station(106 megawatts) and Sondu Miriu whichhas a capacity of 60 megawatts.

    KenGen has a total power capacityof 1,617 megawatts, out of which 820megawatts is hydropower, 518 mega-

    watts is geothermal, 25.5 megawatts is wind energy while the rest is thermalsources.

    This amounts to about a third ofpower bought by Kenya Power foronward sale to home and businesses,a signal that an increase in the bulktariffs would put pressure on the ERCto review retail tariffs to cover the ad-ditional costs.

    Kenya Power recently sought the ERCapproval to raise consumer charges inorder to cover rising operation costs andupgrade its transmission network.

    But Ministry of Energy officials haveruled out any tariff increment, puttinga fresh hurdle to Kenya Powers planto open a new avenue for growing its

    bottom-line.In 2004, the government opted to

    subsidise KenGens bulk electricity pur-chase agreement with Kenya Power tocushion consumers.

    KenGen was directed to sell powerto Kenya Power at Sh1.76 per kilowattinstead of the wholesale rate of Sh2.36per unit.

    The government opted to pay thedifference of Sh0.60 on behalf of KenyaPower.

    Presently, homes consuming 200KhW pay Sh3,398 or Sh17 a unit, upfrom Sh2,783 or Sh13.90 a unit in April2014. It remains unclear if the State willstep in with a subsidy to make the twoutilities happy once [email protected]

    DISPUTE Utility rmays power produceroes not deserve higher

    es from hydro plants

    Kenya Power CEO Ben Chumo. SALATON NJAU

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    BUSINE SS DAILY | Monday June 6, 2016

    ECONOMY & POLITICS

    BY NEVILLE OTUKI

    Kenya and Turkey have agreinto an agreement that will seistered in the two countries peither Nairobi or Ankara, meinvestment.

    President Uhuru Kenyattaish counterpart Tayyip Erdoon a three-day state visit to N

    week, agreed to strike a doubavoidance agreement (DTAA

    They agreed to strengthelations in energy, education, ICT, oil and mining, agricultcurity following the signing oof pacts.

    Turkey will play host to Pratta in August. The Turkish pr

    with a delegation of 125 busiscouting for deals. We need

    barriers to investments in the tware removed, Mr Kenyatta sapress brieng at State House.

    A DTAA allows rms regtwo countries to pay taxes country. This is the second tiish president is paying a State vafter Abdullah Gl in 2009.

    The two countries seek ttrade volume past the $1 bil

    billion) mark from Sh14.4 bmillion) in 2015.

    Bilateral trade is, howevefavour of Turkey which sold to

    billion worth of goods last yeto Sh1.3 billion that Nairobi

    Ankara, according to data frMinistry of Foreign Affairs. Kfrom Turkey include coal bitleum, machinery, textiles, steerubber, furniture and plastics.

    Naiobi, T taxation dspu inve

    LARRY MADOWO

    AMSTERDAM

    nya should use advanced securityware to deal with the Somalia bor-crisis and the terrorism it has bredhin its borders, US technology gianttorola Solutions has said.The American multinational, which

    w specialises in mission-critical com-nication services, said other govern-nts and agencies have beneted from

    wtechnologies to keep people safe.We highly encourage Kenya to thinkwider perspective and solve some ofssues they currently have around ter-sm, said the president and general

    manager of the rms Israel office, ShimonDick, who also covers Africa.

    Mr Dick attended a dinner with Presi-dent Uhuru Kenyatta in Jerusalem in lateFebruary where the issue of a nationwidesecurity system came up.

    You cannot rely on a private opera-tor like Safaricom to support the police,he said in reference to the telecom rmsSh14.9 billion National Surveillance, Com-munication and Control System. Thatis just a general example, but it does nothappen anywhere else in the world.

    Mr Dick was speaking on the sidelinesof the Critical Communications World(CCW) 2016 Amsterdam, an industry con-ference now in its 18 th year. The forum is

    organised by the non-prot TETRA andCritical Communications Association.

    The Motorola chief advised Kenya togo for a standard, secure system that can

    be used for cross-border communicationand in co-operation with Somalia.

    I recommend Terrestrial TrunkedRadio (TETRA) because it has stable in-frastructure, the system is resilient and

    even if you lose the switch you can talk between just two base stations.

    Interior ministry spokesman MwendaNjoka said there already exists an inde-pendent and default radio communica-tions system for police and other securityagencies. After the Westgate ShoppingMall terror attack in September 2013, vari-ous experts pointed to the lack of an effec-tive communication system between thepolice and military as having complicatedthe rescue operation.

    At the Amsterdam conference, special-ist companies such as Airbus Defence andSpace are showing ways to make cities saferand how technology can be used to assistlaw enforcement organisations.

    The European company has previouslyunsuccessfully tried to clinch a police com-munication system tender in Kenya.

    Some of the innovations at CCW 2016

    include a back pack from Notra Compact Network, whicha small-scale 4G network wiThe network can provide voidata services in emergencremote locations and eventsa hotspot for public safety orindustries and operators. It h75km and can be used by up to

    Motorola is showcasin ware solutions, enhanced inand a virtual reality-enabledcentre concept in Amsterdam

    The world is getting ous, from a cyber-security ba physical security perspectiv

    why we are innovating techkeep people safe, says Jackrms executive vice presid

    wide [email protected]

    Use technology to ght teoism, Motoola tINSECURITYCountry has been battlingl-Shabaab terrorists based in Somalia

    Security personnel patrol near WestgateShopping Mall after the September 2013terrorist attack. FILE

    BY PAUL REDFERN

    CORRESPONDENT, LONDON

    Kenya is about to get a third-rate rail- way for the cost of a very expensive one,according to a report in the Economistmagazine on the new Nairobi to Mom-

    basa rail line.Questions also remain, according to

    the London-based magazine, on how therailway will be paid for and who exactlyis going to run it. The new track is cost-ing Kenya about $4 billion (Sh404 billion),mostly funded by a loan from the ChineseExIm bank, and construction is due to becompleted next year.

    But the report says that although only

    a year remains before completion, not onlyare tariffs and rates undecided, but it isnot even clear who will run the railway.Kenyan officials have apparently taken toskipping trade conferences of late to avoidanswering questions.

    Could this be because the new railwayis a dud investment? Its fastest trains willdo a fairly mediocre 80kph. Much as withthe old railway, parts of the new line will besingle-track, forcing trains to stop, often forhours, to let others pass. Most absurdly, itis built to a lower standard of load-bearingthan most other new freight railways.

    The Economist also quotes consult-ants, including Pierre Pozzo di Borgo ofthe International Finance Corporation

    wing of the World Bank, who says thatrehabilitating the older line might havecost just ve per cent as much as build-ing a new one.

    Transport experts have also questioned whether it will be possible to load four fullcontainers onto each wagon, as is done onother new lines.

    The magazine notes that repaying theloans taken out to build the line will requirehefty fees or huge volumes of traffic.

    It notes however that truckerswhonow handle more than 95 per cent of thefreight moved from Mombasa portwillcompete ercely on price, and shippingcompanies may look for other ports iflevies rise.

    Questions aised ove the viability ofnew Naiobi to Mombasa ail line

    ANGIRA ZADOCK

    ormer CEO of Wananchi Group,hard Alden, was arrested on Satur-following the death of a woman inen, Nairobi, on Saturday.Nairobi County police commanderheth Koome said the suspect hadn the deceased, Grace Kinyanjui,aren Hospital alleging that she hadherself in an attempted suicide.

    When police officers rushed to thepitall, they found that the wom-had a gunshot wound, fresh stabunds and her ngers were alsoken.Mr Alden, 63, was then arrested andn back to his residence where po-established that he was a licencedarm holder.Our officers also found a spent car-ge in the house, which has beenn for ballistic examination, Mr

    ome said. He has been arrestedwill face murder charges once in-igations are complete.Mr Alden, a Briton, was the chief ex-ive officer of Wananchi Grouptherator of Zukubetween September3 and November last year, havingviously been the groups chief oper-g officer for nine months.From 1998 to 2009, he was the chiefcutive officer and a founding direc-of ONO, the largest cable televisiontelecommunications operator inin.The incident comes just a week af-a man shot dead another man inden Estate, Nairobi, after he foundat his girlfriends house.

    x-WananchiEO held ove

    womans death

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    RICES I RESULTS I DATA

    CORPORATE NEWS

    ABIUD OCHIENG

    yan employees of global electronics giantsson have demanded that the companyloses to them names of those who will bected by an impending retrenchment.They want to know who among the 500ons the company has targeted for re-chment are in the Kenya office, and theartments to be affected.The employees claim that an internal

    wsash dated May 27 this year sent byrms Head of Human Resources for Sub-aran Africa Region Blair Mackenzie, an-nced a right-sizing initiative within

    Region (sub-Saharan Africa)ng that the company would

    mediately commence a vol-ary retrenchment.The employees throughyer Apollo Mboya have re-sted Ericsson Kenya Ltd tovide them with details of theerance pay for the rst phasehe voluntary retrenchmenteach of the countries in theSaharan Region including

    not limited to South Africa,eria, Ghana and Rwanda.In respect to the next phase, forced re-chment, we seek information regardingargeted number and employees in Ken-riteria for determining the targeted em-

    yees, details of how to enforce the forcefulenchment, and the mechanisms if any ofrring victimisation of employees, said

    Mr Mboya in the letter addressed to the rm.The workers are also seeking detai ls on any

    benets payable to those who will survive,the voluntary and forced retrenchments,and for what period will they continue to

    work for the company. They further seek toknow the statutory actions and steps taken

    to effect the said voluntary andforced retrenchments includingnotices and correspondences tothe relevant authorities and tar-geted employees.

    In the communication to em-ployees, the company had statedthat it will be its sole discretionto accept or decline a request,and further that the processshall be opened on May 27 untilJune 10, 2016. The voluntary re-tirement package shall generally

    consist of country legislated severance andgratuity. The gratuity portion is dened asper the years of service at Ericsson, readsthe communication.

    The employees were also notied that thedecision of opening, closing, as well as theprinciples of voluntary retirement remainsthe sole discretion of Ericsson and therefore

    no negotiations will be considered.An employee who volunteers shall re-

    ceive the legislated country retrenchmentpackage or as dened in the collective agree-ments, as well as an Ericsson dened gratu-ity, the company said in a communicat ionto employees.The rm stated that it has con-stantly been reviewing its business model toimprove customer experience so as to remainone of the leaders in the market.

    Mr Mboya says the employees are alsoalarmed that on the same date the inter-nal newsash was issued, May 27, 2016, allRegion Sub-Saharan African employees re-ceived a letter, curiously dated June 30, 2015

    which purported to explain the potentialretrenchments, and that as an alternative topotential retrenchment, the company is will-ing to consider voluntary retrenchment foremployees. The employees have warned thatshould Ericsson Kenya Ltd fail to providethe information , they will le a case in courtchallenging the layoffs. The letter has beencopied to the Cabinet Secretary Ministry ofInformation and Communication, ChairmanCommunication Authority of Kenya and theDirector of Immigration.

    [email protected]

    Eicsson Kenya staff demandto know etenchment tems

    LAY-OFFSWorkers wantknow, among other things,

    umber and the criteria forcking those to be laid off

    The Ericsson Group headquarter in Kista, north of Stockholm. The globa telecom equipmentmaker plans to shed jobs. AFP

    An employee who volunteesshall eceive the

    legislated county

    etenchmentpackage

    ERICSSON COMMUNICATION

    A Kenya Wildlife Service ofcer arranges a stockpile of ivory foJKIA has recorded 51 seizures in 289 cases in seven years.

    BY MUGAMBI MUTEGI

    Jomo Kenyatta International Air-port (JKIA) has the highest ivoryseizures record globally.

    This is as per a report released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) last week.

    JKIA, a regional hub, has re-corded 51 out of the 289 ivory sei-zures reported in the seven yearsto April 2016, a statistic IATA saysresults from heightened screeningand intelligence measures.

    This is a good thing. It meansthat initiatives by gov-ernment and airportauthorities in collab-oration with Kenyanairlines are payingoff, said Jon Godson,IATAs assistant direc-tor for environment best practices.

    However, moreneeds to be done. Andthat is why we are call-ing on governmentagencies, airlines andother stakeholders topartner proactively to ght thislocal and global problem.

    Mr Godson was speaking dur-ing IATAs AGM in Dublin, Ireland.The IATA is an association of 264global airlines. He said the highnumber of seizures recorded atJKIA does not mean Kenya leadsin ivory trafficking.

    This is because the seizures area combination of ivory parts inter-cepted while in transit throughJKIA from other countries whileothers were sourced from Kenyanelephants. The statistics are collat-ed from what is publicly reported,

    meaning a lot more ipassing through othedetected and unrepo

    Kenyan authorrecent months madzures at JKIA includMarch where a cargo

    was found to includSh6.4 million.

    The consignmenfrom Mozambique t

    Dogs trained b Wildlife Foundatiothe Kenya Wildlife SCanine Detection U

    partlyincreful semont

    AmemKenydorsedenolegal

    prodto paernmand

    ganisations.The airlines com

    crease passenger aawareness about scale and consequillegal wildlife tradpledged to partner wfreight forwarders anholders. The illegathreatens the survivdangered species, sIATAs director genexecutive.

    President Uhur April torched 105 to worth Sh31 billion.

    It means thatinitiatives by

    govenment incollaboation with

    Kenyan ailinesae paying off

    JON GODSON, IATA ASSISTANT

    DIRECTOR

    JKIA ecods highest seizueivoy in seven

    OKUTTAH MARK

    yal Media Services, the owner of Citizenis seeking a pay-television licence fromndustry regulator.The Communications Authority of KenyaFriday notice said Royal Media ServicesSimba TV Kenya had applied for a licenceerrestrial subscription broadcasting serv- that would enable them to offer pay-services. If granted, the licence wouldRoyal Media Services in a head-to-head

    mpetition with other pay-TV rms GOtvStarTimes.The two offer their content both on satel-

    lite and terrestrial platforms.This is a licence for providing pay-TV

    services on terrestrial platform. Some of theexisting terrestrial subscription service pro-

    viders include GOtv and StarTimes.The licensing process under the new re-

    gime is ongoing at the moment, said directorgeneral Francis Wangusi in a response to the

    Business Daily queries.Any public or county authority, com-

    pany, person or body of persons desirousof making any representation on or objec-tion to the grant of that licence as aforesaidmust do so before expiry of 30 days fromthe date of this notice and must forward to

    the applicant a copy of such representationor objection.

    The Regional Radio Communication Con-ference held in Geneva in 2006 set a June 17,2015 deadline for migration to digital TV.

    Before then access to pay-TV in Kenyahad been restricted to either satellite or cablenetworks, but this changed with the digitalmigration allowing the regulator to licenserms to offer the service under the digitalterrestrial broadcasting.

    According to the GeoPoll survey releasedin January, 30 per cent of the households thatown set-top boxes opted for free-to-air broad-casts while 70 per cent chose pay-TV.

    Royal Media Sevices applies fo pay-TV licence

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    ANNIE NJANJA

    s than half of family business ownersenya have plans to hand-over their

    mpanies to the heirs-in-waiting, ay by nancial consultancy PwC hasblished.The study by Pricewater-seCoopers (PwC), how-r, found that 60 per cente next-in-line are waitingatiently to take over the

    ntle, pointing to possiblere succession conicts.A majority (32 per cent)he heirs want to take them of the family businessesare not sure of their posi-in the family business.Only 28 per cent of thext generation are readys while another 11 perhope to take up a seniorbut not necessarily the

    m, according to the 2016xt Generation Survey by Pricewater-seCoopers.Succession planning ensures continu-f family businesses, but only 23 perof the Kenyan enterprises surveyed

    e a plan in place.The death of the owners of such en-rises often marks the beginning ofous wrangles and tedious court battleck their successors.Succession planning helps to groweaders and ideas of tomorrow and

    well as in managing expectations and asanother way of avoiding conict, said thePwC associate director Moses Nyabadaduring a Family Business Conferenceheld in Nairobi.

    The survey also found that about 31per cent of owners admitthat company successionplanning will be a key chal-lenge in ve years time.

    Kenya has recently seena steep rise in the numberof family feuds over controlof wealth left behind by thesuper-rich.

    Some of the high-prolesuccession battles that havefound their way to courtinclude those of formercabinet minister NjengaKarume, ex-police chiefPhilip Kanyotu and Naku-ru businessman StephenKungu.

    Handing over the family business and relinquishing all responsi- bilities continues to prove unpopular forfounders with 61 per cent admitting thatthey were nding it hard to let go while52 per cent are concerned that handingover means they will spend more timemanaging family politics.

    The founders and heirs differing per-spectives on leadership, succession plan-ning and governance also continues to bean impediment while running a family.

    According to the survey, 69 per cent of the

    next generation prefer to bring in non-family managers, expand into new geo-graphic market (60 per cent) and diver-sify products and services (59 per cent)

    while about 47 per cent prefer to establisha new entrepreneurial venture.

    Most founders prefer to stick to theoriginal business plan and not to bringin outsiders. Joseph Okelo, the founderof Association of Family Business Enter-prises said that obsession deters mostfounders from drawing a succession planas some are worried that next of kin maynot have the ability to manage and growfamily wealth if and when left behind.

    When a founder stays too long in aposition they become an impediment tothe long-term success of the business.Ensuring a smooth transition sometimesinvolves getting outside help.

    Bringing in professionals and puttingup structures can help the next genera-

    tion scale up the business, he said.Property management rm Knight

    Frank published a report in March whichstated that Kenyas Super rich are more

    worried about ability of succession plansthey have put in place for their businessesthan taxes or stock market instability.

    The report found that 76 per cent ofthe 8,962 dollar millionaires in Kenyaexpressed doubts over their childrensreadiness or willingness to overseecontinuity of the family businesses intheir absence

    The PwC Survey states that 69 percent of the next generation prefer to bringin non-family managers to grow the busi-ness, expand into new geographic market(60 per cent) and diversify products andservices (59 per cent). About 47 per centof those interviewed prefer to establisha new entrepreneurial venture.

    Anjanja@ke,nationmedia,com

    PwC suvey: Kenyan family businessownes fustating impatient heis

    SUCCESSION60pc of heirs-in-waiting restlesss enterprise heads delay in handing over reins

    A Tuskys store in Nairobi. Family membersare locked in a battle over the ownershipof the supermarket chain. FILE

    ORPORATE NEWS

    When a foundestays too longin a position

    they become animpediment to the long-temsuccess of the

    businessJOSEPH OKELO, FDOUNDER,

    ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY

    BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

    Key things NextGen would like toimplement

    SOURCE: PWC

    Family opens Sights i boost g

    BY BRIAN NGUGI

    Family Banks quest to raisthrough a rights issue has kithe lender offering its sharopportunity to buy more stcounted price of Sh22 per s

    The mid-sized lender wfour new shares for every 2existing shareholders in a bpansion capital. The rightslast Tuesday and will close o

    Family Bank Chairma boro on Friday urged the bholders to take their full rigticipate in the offer , saying tinues to be a home grown

    Family Bank is a strothat continues to play a centrcountrys development. Wstay. I urge shareholders to efull rights as the bank is gosaid Mr Kiboro.

    Family Bank Chief ExeDavid Thuku said the capitato the lenders plans as it eytop tier status.

    ExpandWe will continue to expaness to 100 branches by en

    We will be rolling out inrelevant nancial solutiohancing our procedures aThis capital is key to our gthat include rolling out innoucts that address the very ncustomers, said Mr Thuk

    The transaction advisorissue approved by sharehoits Annual General Meeting22, 2016 are NIC Capital astion Advisors supported by

    Asset Managers (Investme Walker Kontos Advocatessors), and Deloitte & Touch

    Accountants).The Bank is pursuing a m

    capital raising strategy aand equity as part of its vraising plan. Last year the Sh2 billion through a corthat is currently trading on Securities Exchange.

    In April, the bank re billion (30 million Euros) frpean Investment Bank (EIBlower-cost long term loansmedium sized businesses in

    This was the second trEuropean lender with theof Sh2 billion having been

    years ago. The funds came safter the lender secured a sity of Sh1 billion from aFinancier Oiko Credit InOikocredit East Africa is a Oikocredit International hein Netherlands.

    KUTTAH MARK

    nce Telecoms bid to sell its 70 per centeholding of Telkom Kenya to privateity rm Helios Investment Partners is

    w only awaiting Cabinet approval.The Competition Authority of Kenya

    AK) on Friday gave its approval for the, following an earlier authorisation

    he sector regulator, Communicationshority of Kenya (CA).The conclusion of the sale is onrse. With the regulatory approval

    m the Competition Authority ofnya, the Attorney Generals office isected to take the matter to the cabinetapproval, its thereafter that the par-will make a public announcement,ICT secretary Joseph Mucheru in

    nterview.Helios has registered Jamhuri Hold-Limited as the local company to take

    over the shares. The government throughthe Treasury owns a 30 per cent stake inTelkom Kenya while France Telecomsthat is exiting the local market owns70 per cent.

    PURSUANT to the provisions of sec-tion 46 (6) (a) (ii) of the Competition Act,2010, it is notied for general informa-tion of the public that the Competition

    Authority of Kenya has authorised theproposed acquisition of 70 per cent ofthe issued share cap ital of Telkom KenyaLimited by Jamhuri Holdings Limited,Francis Wangombe, the CAK directorgeneral said in the Kenya Gazatte no-tice published on Friday.

    The CA approved the France Tel-ecom sale on condition that TelkomKenya offsets the frequency fees it owesthe authority.

    In April Telkom Kenya paid Sh300 mil-lion in part settlement of the Sh1.5 billion

    it owed to the Communications Authorityof Kenya (CA) in frequency fees arrears.Telkom Kenya is said to be in talks withthe Treasury to offset part of the balance(Sh1.2 billion) that the government cur-rently owes the rm.

    The telco in April also reportedlyagreed to settle Sh693 million owed toSafaricoms by May 1.

    Until 2012, the government had a 49per cent stake in Telkom Kenya whileFrance Telecom held the remaining 51per cent. But the State ceded a nine per

    cent stake in December 2012 followinga Sh30 billion debt write-off before los-ing another 10 per cent last June afterit failed to inject Sh2.4 billion in a Sh10

    billion rights issue.Helios has recently held meetings

    with government officials on the rebal-ancing of Telkoms books, agreeing onhow the telco would settle debts it owesand signing a clause guaranteeing thatthe Treasurys shares in Telkom will not

    be diluted.The entry of Helios into Kenyas tel-

    ecommunications sector is expected tostep up competition for Airtel and mar-ket-leader Safaricom, which dominates

    both the voice and data markets.The deep-pocketed private equity fund

    is expected to inject into Telkom Kenyathe required capital and bring in a strongmanagement team that can turn the loss-making telco to protability.

    Telkom Kenya takeove now down to Cabinet appovalAcquisition

    The Competition Authority of Kenyahas authorised the proposed acquisitionof 70 per cent of the issued share capi-tal of Telkom Kenya by Jamhuri Holdings

    Limited. Pictured is CAK director generalrancis Wangombe.

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    o weeks ago, I published an opinionhis page highlighting my experienceh an erroneous report that was sub-ed by my bank to the credit referenceeaus (CRBs). The article generated

    me interesting feedback from somedred spirits.Augustine M shared as follows: Ie also experienced a similar issue likers. A standing order that I had closedyears ago, but apparently the banktinued to surcharge and penalise forr dark years and it only came to myntion when I needed that CRB Creditport. What made me mad was why myk, which I understand has rights ofoff to enable them recover from yourer accounts with them and clear you,s ahead to issue a damning report. Yet

    d all along another well performingn with the same bank.Well dear Augustine, a major as-

    mption that you are making is thatr bank has a universal view of yourounts. Whereas you have a universalw of the bank in terms of all the prod-s and services that you are consum-from them, your bank may have asny separate records of you, as thereservices you are consuming. Theseords are in different databases thatt talk to each other because they areifferent departments.Asking your bank to set off from oneount to another, wellthats just ask-for too much efficiency. I mean doknow how many internal approvals

    e to be sought to get that process ap-ved? Youve got to be kidding man!w your bank might be a manyanga k, meaning it has a supercalifragil-cexpialidocious 21st century operat-system and therefore your nationalntity card number can generate a uni-sal view of your accounts. But then ituires someone to initiate that query.d theres hundreds of thousands ofer retail clients like you.Moreover that would require a ratherh level of efficiency. So hang tough theyre just not that into you. One

    re thing: can you imagine the numberegative reports that the CRBs have

    of ordinary wananchi who have minorcharges on accounts that have failed to

    be closed? And are now dragging a mill-stone around their creditworthy necksin the name of credit reporting?

    Another writer Andrew F had thisto say: Hello Carol, as soon the CRBs

    were authorised commercial banks sub-mitted 800,000 negative credit reports!Needless to say, the commercial banksneglected to comply with the new law bynotifying the 800,000 account holders

    who were having their credit historiestrashed! Too expensive? It really makesno difference; our commercial banks areout of control and our friends and asso-ciates **** (edited out as this is a familynewspaper) us royally in plain sight. Youknew who to contact which only leaves799,999 others being trashed withoutlegally required notice.

    Dear Andrew: Are you aware of howmany Kenyans must have been tempo-rarily employed during the process ofissuing 800,000 negative credit reports?

    During that period, the unemploymentlevels for the country took a signicantdip and the banks were awarded withthe highest Pay As You Earn award fromour veritable tax collectors.

    In fact the bigger issue for me is that by ignoring Section 50 (1) (b) of theCredit Reference Bureau (CRB) Regu-lations 2013, which requires banks tonotify each customer, within 30 days ofthe rst listing, that his name has beensubmitted to all licensed

    bureaus, the bankingindustry deliberatelyscuttled efforts by PostalCorporation of Kenya togrow its prots throughsale of regular postage

    stamps on the 800,000+reports that should have

    been mailed out.Finally, JK weighed

    in with these words:Just thought I wouldpoint out great articletoday in Business Daily,the system is absolutelyawed. In South Africathey forced all bureaus to delete all theirinformation and have all banks resubmit

    because almost the entire country waslisted for one reason or another. I waslisted because I owed a bank Sh200 fornot closing my account with them. Im

    surprised a class action has taken thislong in Kenya.

    Dear JK, thanks very much for reach-ing out to this pained sister. I have triedto research your point about what hap-pened in South Africa and actuallyfound that in 2005 the South Africanspublished a National Credit Act which

    stipulates the type of informa-tion that credit bureauscan keep on consumers,how the information isobtained, used, and forhow long that informa-tion may be kept on

    their records. More importantly,

    the Act aims to ensurethat credit bureauskeep accurate recordson consumers. In a bidto cure the mischief oferroneous credit report-ing, the Act in Section72 gives consumers the

    right to access and challenge informationheld by a credit bureau. A key extract ofthat section provides that a consumercan challenge and request proof of theaccuracy of information held by a credit

    bureau.

    Should a credit bureau fail to providethe consumer with proof of accuracy ofinformation that the consumer disputes,it is compelled to remove the disputedinformation from its records. The samesection also gives the consumer the rightto be advised by a credit provider beforecertain adverse information about thatconsumer is passed onto a credit bureauand to receive a copy of that informationon request.

    As we often say in Kenya, its not adearth of laws that we suffer from; ratherit is the enforcement of existing law thatis the problem.

    The Credit Reference Bureau regula-tions in Kenya do protect the consum-ers, but the protection mechanisms arenot being enforced by the banks, eitherthrough sheer laziness and ineptitudeor utter contempt for the impact of theiractions.

    I like that the South African legisla-tion puts the burden of proof for verac-ity of information on the credit bureau,

    which means that a layer has been addedfor ensuring that consumers are protect-ed from lazy bank processes.

    [email protected]: @carolmusyoka

    DEAS & DEBATEPINIONS I REVIEWS I ANALYSIS

    A customer counts money at a bank counter. Banks should facilitate an efcient creditreporting system. FILE

    FINANCECredit reference bureau rules in Kenya protect consumers, but they are not being enforced by lenders

    Eoneous ceditepoting due toax bank pocesses

    As we often say in Kenya, its nota death of laws

    that we sue fom, athe it is the enfocementof existing law that is the poblem

    NIT PICKER

    CAROL MUSYOKA

    Yoweri MuseveUganda Preside

    Other Voices

    Rebecca Carroll (GuardiPresumptive Republican nTrump has been fairly straregarding how he feels in people in America he faieffectively disavow formeDavid Duke in May, referrMatter movement as trouduring the course of his cahave surfaced, such as his black season of The App

    Simon Reader (BusinessThe announcement this wANCs branches have accapology for accidentally d

    conrms that the presidenthas returned to its pre-Deccondition.Fear of repercusmost ofcials into not repoconduct by the Gupta famiinvestigation into their attethe state. Its unlikely Zumbarrel of the gun.

    Donald TrumpUS Presidential

    Jacob ZumaSA President

    Yasiin Mugerwa(Daily MTo President Musevenis crthe-Nation address is supppolitical theatre. In other cobusiness to the extent thatthe speech, thousands of wout and many sentences re-of States to the nation last wreceived. Some of the archConstitution share the viewof the address is for the Prereport the condition of the nallows him or her to outlineagenda and national priori

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    A few years ago, I watched a movie whose message resonates with theevents in Kenya in recent weeks.In one of the scenes, one character asksto be told the truth and in response he isasked whether he can handle the truth thathe seeks. As a society we seem to be likethis character, seeking the truth yet notprepared to handle it. Neither are we pre-pared to speak it. We consequently glidethrough our public discussions trying toobfuscate the truth.

    Discussing this issue with a group offriends this week, there was surprise athow discussions on critical national issuesdo not take honesty as a critical justication

    and point of focus. Sadly, this is not limitedto the political class.It permeates many segments in our so-

    ciety, evident when public issues are beingdebated, more so when those discussions ex-tend to political and governance matters.

    One issue that has occupied debate overthe past few weeks is the 2017 elections. Atthe centre of the discourse is the fate of thecurrent Independent Electoral and Bounda-ries Commission (IEBC) chiefs, the levels ofpolarisation and the credibility of those elec-tions. Of contention is the process by whichto discuss and resolve these issues.

    There are differences amongst the politi-cal class on which is the correct and desir-

    able approach. Those discussing this quotethe Constitution, saying that their positionis anchored in the supreme law.

    The positive out of this is the public pro-nouncement of adherence to constitution-alism. Were these statements fully accurate,

    we would not be where we are. When onelistens beyond the formal statements, it be-comes clear that the real debate is not aboutthe process.

    It is also not about the Constitution. It isa debate about politics and political inter-ests. And in this process, the Constitution is

    being used as a shield, to cover up the realissues -those who are not willing to honestlydebate in public.

    The reality is that the country is at a crossroads. Our future is threatened. Our formalstatements as a country seem to appreciatethis fact. The need for a solution is not indispute. It cannot be that we can disagreeon nding that solution in a manner that isin accordance to the Constitution.

    To argue that the Constitution is an incon- venience which we can do away with is to ig-

    nore i ts purpose and the reason we struggledto get the supreme law. Equally, to argue thatthe Constitution prevents us from discourseis to be economical with the truth. But suchis the nature of our public discourse.

    Similarly treated with dishonesty is thelong-standing issue of corruption. Kenyansare unanimous on the dangers of corrup-tion and the need eradicate it. Yet despitethis understanding, recent surveys demon-strate that young people not only adore those

    who have acquired wealth through corruptmeans, they look forward to opportunitiesto partake of the same vice.

    When the survey results were presentedto the public a few months ago, they were

    met with surprise. However, weto reect on where the young phave learnt this practices from.

    The current debate is about otem as society and the evidencend. Last week the media covering public vetting of police officattempting to debate whether t

    were corrupt or not, what is strtype of explanations they gave fcash deposits they had in their ac

    From proceeds of farmingimportant guests, the tales were as they were unreal. Yet few sa

    wrong with those explanationslargely laughed them away. How

    we expect to have honest debatruption when we can publiclyexplanations?

    Lastly is the issue of our tribaThis column has in the past raiseabout public discourse on thisonly needs to follows commenmedia to know that our level ofsion is disturbing.

    Worse, the feelings do not ror educational status. One can thuse ignorance as an excuse. Yet icussions we often pretend all is wexplain the differences as artic

    It should therefore not surprone feels choked just from listeparticipating in public debatesders whether he/she is listeninKenyans or is out of touch withcannot hope to prosper with thito public discourse. The questio

    we have the moral courage to ferent path.Dr Odote is a lecturer at tof Nairobi

    Dishonesty in ou public debates is w

    COLLINS ODOTE

    DISCOURSE

    VIEWS FROM ABROAD Opinions fom aound the wold These are predatory loansThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has beenpromising for more than a year to rein in the payday lendingindustry, whose business model relies on luring Americansinto ruinously priced loans. The proposal that the agency

    unveiled Thursday representsa down payment on that

    promise.The industry says it provides a convenient option forconsumers, who can get a quick loan and repay it on theirnext payday, typically in two weeks.The system is expressly designed to bleed borrowers, whoare typically struggling workers or people on fixed incomeswho are just getting by.

    A time to weep about gun violenceFifty-five-hundred people, give or take, have died in gunviolence in the United States so far this year, and anadditional 11,000 or so have been injured. So Wednesdayscampus murder-suicide at the University of California at

    Los Angeles will be neithermuch noted nor long

    remembered amid this nations quotidian digest of gunplay.That Americans are largely inured to the carnage doesnothing to negate its grinding, corrosive toll. Think of thehours-long panic into which tens of thousands of UCLAparents, and tens of thousands of spouses and children ofUCLA faculty and staff, were thrown by the uncertain newson Wednesday. And weep.

    Social media tour promExperts in tourism sector from Ibeen charting ways to market rAmong the items ways mootedin the region includes the use of

    particcitize

    drive. Social media has changeBut how are citizens expected tsocial media marketing of the rCustomer care and being warmis not enough to raise tourism.Only when the issue of pride anwill we see citizens actively pro

    WASHINGTON POST

    WASHINGTON DC

    THE NEW TIMES

    KIGALINEW YORK TIMES

    NEW YORK

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    W hat do Richard Branson,Kate Moss and restaurant

    waiters have in common?lowing the Competition and Mar-s Authoritys (CMA) move to in-tigate Londons model agencies,y all are associated with sectorshave been scrutinised by the UKchdog for alleged price-xing.ile the CMA has yet to prove anyts initial allegations, the model-business does have some cartel-

    ndly features.

    At rst sight, the business of sup-plying companies and fashion houses

    with attractive clothes horses over 5foot 8 inches in height for women and5 foot 11 inches-plus for men, accord-ing to requirements listed on agency

    websites looks hard to rig.Economic theory suggests that car-

    tels need barriers to entry, otherwiseattempts to x prices can be under-mined by new entrants. Unlike thestart-up costs involved in supplyingnew aircraft or building materials, anaspiring model agent can theoretically

    just stand in the street and ag downappealing-looking specimens as they

    walk past.In fact, taking on the likes of Storm,

    Models 1, Premier, FM Models and Viva the agencies listed by the CMA probably does mean scaling sizable

    barriers. The more big name modelson the roster, the more clients use theagency a variant of what economistscall network effects.

    Those that want to crash the partyeither have to take models from theirexisting employer, or do somethingspecial as Storm founder SarahDoukas famously did in 1988 whenshe discovered the 14-year-old Mossat New Yorks JFK Airport.

    One difference between xingthe price of models and, say, trucks,is that the value of the former wouldseem much more variable than thelatter. But modelling contracts are infact quite standardised, according to

    booking term guidelines issued by the Association of Model Agents.

    Of the invoice that clients pay,models receive two-thirds and theagent the rest. Storm, for example,invoiced 15 million pounds in 2014and paid 10.3 million pounds out tomodels, according to accounts lodgedat Companies House.The author is a Reuters columnist

    Models are a surprising face for cartel economicsGEORGE HAY

    ULATION

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    BY BD CORRESPONDENT

    IN KAMPALA

    The French government, through itspublic bank and overseas developmentagency, Agence Franaise de Dvelop-

    pement (AFD), has said it will commit180million to the development of theproposed Kampala-Jinja Expresswaynext year.

    The loan was revealed by Ms VirgnieLeroy, the AFDs country representa-tive, during a meeting with journalistsin Kampala to highlight their projectsin Uganda.

    The project is one of the excitingundertakings by the government (ofUganda), and we are ready to offer themany help, Ms Leroy said.

    From what we know so far, shesaid,there will be a number of aspects

    that will require nancing from envi-ronmental studies, studies for the reset-tlement action plan and others, whichneed to be updated.

    However, we will have to work withthe Ministry of Finance to nd alloca-tion for the money, she added.

    The ambitious toll road project will be nanced through a Public-PrivatePartnership (PPP) model.

    The AFD nancing (loan) will, how-ever, t in on the side of government.The 77km stretch will start at Nakawa

    in Kampala and connect to Jinja Town-ship. Officials say sections of the road

    will have four to eight lanes, respec-tively at various points.

    For example, it will have six lanes between Bweyogerere and Lugazi, andthen a dual carriage between Lugaziand Jinja.

    Its development will also go hand-in-hand with construction of the Kam-pala Southern Bypass, an 18km roadstretch that will start at Butabika, onthe eastern outskirts of Kampala, andconnect to the New Kampala-Jinja Ex-pressway and Munyonyo at the new

    Entebbe-Kampala Expressway whoseconstruction is already ongoing.

    The Uganda National Roads Au-thority executive director, Ms Allen Ka-gina, told Daily Monitor recently, thatthey had planned going to the market

    in March but faced some delays.The delays were caused by two

    things: one, the restructuring we aredoing here, being the implementingagency, some of the activities plannedhad to be delayed, but main one has

    been the approval of the Resettlement Action Plan and the EnvironmentalImpact Assessment plan.

    We had a consultant who designedone and was due for approval, but be-cause it had been overtaken by severalmonths, it had to be updated before

    we handover the project to the con-cessionaire.

    Fance pledges funding fo key Kampala highway poject

    Uganda National Roads Authorityexecutive director Allen Kagina. FILE

    Zambia has shortlisted b

    large-scale 50 megawattgeneration plants as the ndecit which threatens inZambias power shortfalfrom 700 MW in Novemgeneration as water levelcause of drought.NEON S.A.S./First Solaer SpA are front-runnersZambias Industrial Devsaid in statement.The two bidders put theirper kilowatt hour (kWh) kWh, respectively, and thwould remain xed for 2said.

    Zambia shortlists bibuild large-scale sol

    LUSA

    Canon, an imaging and ovider, has announced plathe East African region ato the Ugandan market.The announcement was last week during the launCanon Central and Northness division that will ovsegment. The division wber 2015 to pay more attand needs of its customerapidly evolving African

    BRIEFIN

    KAMPA

    Imaging company expand operations

    Tanzania rejected ndingwho said elephants couldserve there within six yeascale poaching, saying toutdated.WWF said Selous Gamelargest protected area, wagreatest concentrations othe continent, but rampanseen the population reducless than 40 years.

    Tanzania denies elepdisappear from reser

    DAR ES SAL

    Congo Republics govercut spending in the curre

    around inne percent, repyear revision made last ycut into revenues, the coter said. Initially set at 2($4 billion), spending unwill drop to 2.122 trillioMoungalla said:. Despition, the government plalevel of investment in orto support economic actplay a role to stimulate g

    BRAZZAV

    Congo to cut budgetstraight year due to o

    huge stock of maize Jumannesele put aside last year was enoughpare his family from hunger andn him cash to repay his debts - or sohought.A short while after Masele had n-d stuffing the grain into a traditionalage cocoon, he realised much of itbeen infested by fungus as groundsture from heavy rain seeped inugh the bottom of his store maderied soil, sticks and grass.There was nothing I could do to sal-

    e my grains it was a total loss, hethe Thomson Reuters Foundation.pite a bumper harvest, the farmer,from Mbumi village in the east Tan-a district of Kilosa lost most of his

    ps, threatening his familys food

    supply. I still dont know how to storemy harvests traditional techniquesare no longer effective as the grain eas-ily rots when we get unexpected extrarains, Masele said.

    Agriculture is the backbone of Tanza-nias economy, providing work for morethan four fths of the population. Therural sector accounts for over half thecountrys gross domestic product andexport earnings, according to nationalstatistics.

    Yet as Tanzanian farmers struggle to

    market their crops, nearly 40 per centof grains are lost to poor storage andextreme weather, costing the nation$332 million every year, the govern-ment says.

    Efforts are underway to curb these

    losses. Since 2013, smallholder farmersin nine African countries have been get-ting help to trade staple foods across

    borders and store their crops better un-der a ve-year programme managed byDevelopment Alternatives, Inc (DAI), aU.S.-based company that works with theprivate sector to overcome barriers todevelopment.

    As part of the FoodTrade East andSouthern Africa programme, funded bythe British government, a 3 million($4.3 million) grant was announced

    in April to enable 70,000 smallholderfarmers in Tanzania and Uganda to ac-cess regional export markets.

    Those two countries produce a sur-plus of staple foods almost every year,

    whereas Kenya only grows enough to

    feed itself one year in ve, accord ing tolead agency Farm Africa.

    Until recently, high tariffs on trade within East Africa meant it was cheaperfor Kenya to import crops from outside

    Africa, but recent policy developmentshave removed barriers to regional trade,Farm Africa said in a statement.

    Steve Ball, country director for Farm Africa Tanzania, said the new projectspush to promote food trade was a steptowards agricultural self-sufficiency inthe region, and would help lift tens ofthousands of small-scale farmers outof poverty.

    Such farmers grow 80 to 90 per centof staple crops in the region, Farm Af-rica noted.

    Local experts hope the FoodTradescheme will curb post-harvest losses

    while increasing the amount of graincrops for sale outside the peak harvestseason.

    Tanzanias ght against hungerreceived a major boost from the gov-ernments Big Results Now initiative

    which raised maize production from100,000 hectares (247,105 acres) per yearto 350,000 hectares in 2016. But it is onlynow that the effects of poor grain storageare becoming clear, analysts say.

    Tanzania, through its NationalFood Reserve Agency, owns 33 stor-age facilities with a total capacity of246,000 tonnes, but officials say thatis insufficient.

    Farm Africa and its partners willhelp Tanzanian and Ugandan small-holders store their surpluses of rice,maize and beans.

    The farmers will initially sell prod-

    ucts to more than 100 moisture-control-led depots with the capacity to stockup to 500 tonnes each and carry outquality checks.

    -REUTERS

    East Afica food scheme aims

    to stop the ot and boost tade

    mers dry maize outside Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret. Most smallholder farmers in East Africa do not have proper storagelities for their harvests. FILE

    AGRICULTURE Donor programmes rolled out for smallholder farmers to access regional export markets

    EGIONAL NEWS

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    clays Bank of Kenya head of SME banking Susan Situma with a customer at the launch of Wezesha Biashara naclays initiative in Machakos. The SME Open Day targets more than 10,000 business owners in 11 towns and willr the entrepreneurs access credit at subsidised rates as well as training in nancial literacy. COURTESY

    mmercial Bank ofca chief executivemy Ngunze (left)

    Safaricom actingctor Financialvices Brian Wamatuht) present a

    mmy cheque towisha na M-Shwarimillion grande winner Leonardetich KiplangatSafaricom shopairobi on Friday.ON NJAU

    ORPORATE SCENE

    al Kenya MDne-Solangeouard (left)ents a cheque

    upport ofyears Rhinorge to Mr David

    we at Braeburnool in Nairobi.king on is Rhinoexecutivector Christian

    mbrechts. COURTESY

    National Bank ofKenya chairmanMohamedAbdirahmanHassan (left)with actIngchief executiveWilfred Musauat the lendersAGM in Nairobion Friday.DIANA NGILA

    Miss World 2015 Mireia Lalaguna with baby YvetteWanja at Gertrudes Childrens Hospital before sheunderwent reconstructive surgery of her cleft lip andpalate under the Smile Train drive last week. SALATON NJAU

    BY QUEEN MUNGUTI

    N akumatt Holdings announcedthe opening of its 61st branchin Kitisuru shopping complexin Nairobi last month. This comes just

    weeks after French retail store, Carre-four, also began operations in upmarketNairobi, with its rst store at The Hubmall in Karen.

    The openings reect an accelerationin the supermarket race in Kenya, wherelocation is key.

    Kitisuru is one of the few upmarket ar-eas of Nairobi without a large, big brandsupermarket in the immediate suburb toserve its wealthy residents.

    For supermarkets now racing to cap-

    ture the best locations, according to an ar-ticle in the Harvard Business School Web-site titled, Location, Location, Location:The Strategy of Place, the strategic valueof a new location depends on three things:the strength of available resources, suchas nearby supporting industries; the com-panys ability to seek and retrieve knowl-edge in this setting; and its capability to dosomething better than competitors.

    And although upmarket Nairobi is nostranger to retail stores, it is the conven-ience of location for the consumers in resi-dential areas that is vital for the successof new stores.

    One of the rst things that retailerslook for when setting up shop is the po-tential of foot traffic, said Bruce Gumo,marketing analyst at Biztrace, a market-ing solutions agency.

    Consumers look for location conven-

    ience, meaning they will shop at the near-est retail s tore.

    As Nakumatt now looks to solidify itsmarket dominance in the face of incomingrivals, the rms expansion strategies re-main solidly on course, said the NakumattHoldings regional operations and strategydirector, Mr Thiagarajan Ramamurthy, onannouncing the new Kitisuru store.

    We have an army of loyal shoppers, for-midable force of diligent staffers, dedicatedsuppliers and committed partners willingto walk the talk with us and we believe thatgives us an edge. That is why our footprintis growing by the day, he said.

    Acknowledging the growing competi-tiveness in the local formal retail scene,he said Nakumatt has been polishing its

    business and marketing strategies.

    Consumer spendingIn this, a magnet for external players suchas Frances Carrefour is the countrys for-mal retail penetration rate, which rangesfrom 30 per cent to 40 per cent and is thesecond highest in sub-Saharan Africa, ac-cording to a 2016 report by Oxford Busi-ness Group.

    The report states that the consumerspending for the average Kenyan consum-er has risen by as much as 67 per cent inrecent years, which has made Kenya Afri-cas fastest-growing retail market.

    But as the entry of new retail stores inthe country intensies the competitionfor their local counterparts, this is goodnews for the consumers.

    Local retailers will be looking for waysof retaining their customers, as the new en-

    STRATEGY Rapid rise in number of outlets inupmarket Nairobi underscores key role of location

    Retail giants tap subu

    T he Federation of Korean Industrieshas donated 16,500 sets of school als, footballs, and T-shirts to Kenyadren seeking to make social responsibilityof the ourishing relationship between thecountries.

    The gifts were delivered to Kenya duriKenya-Korea Business Forum that took plaNairobi last Tuesday. FKI vice chairman Scheol Lee delivered the consignment to KeMinistry of Health officials on behalf of Kprivate business circle.

    The federation, which is made up of Koreas global corporate giants such as SamsHyundai Motor Company, SK, LG, and LotteKenyas close ties with Seoul bore the potent

    bearing the most benets to the two nationsshould be encouraged. The consignment inclu10 sets of quality school materials made in Ksuch as sketch books, crayons and pencil cas

    Koean industdonates 16,500 Kenyan schoolc

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    JOE OTIN

    Style is a way to say who you are without hav-

    ing to speak, said Rachel Zoe, an Americanfashion designer. Even though we would liketo achieve the same with our brands, in reality weuse various communication techniques to bringour brand stories to life.

    Interactive advertising, for example, aims tomake people think, feel and act, thereby generat-ing behaviour that supports our businesses. Thethree principles that dene interactive advertis-ing emphasise a user-rst approach, a connected

    world and a result-oriented mind set.From a commercial perspective the ultimate

    goal is to engender brand love within the targetaudiences, which takes time, creativity and con-sistent action to achieve, especially within in ahighly competitive environment.

    The average person gets thousands of mes-sages daily which they lter based on relevance,appeal, understanding and distinction. Therefore

    when running interactive advertising campaigns,David Ogilvys words come to mind: When I

    write an advertisement, I dont want you to tellme that you nd it creative. I want you to nd itso interesting that you buy the product. When

    Aeschines spoke, they said, How well he speaks.But when Demosthenes spoke, they said Let usmarch against Philip.

    Anne McCreath understands interactiveadvertising and her knowledge of the interna-tional fashion scene has helped her to propelKiko Romeo from a startup in a skeptical marketinto one of the most distinctive clothing brandsin Kenya. McCreath begins by having a greatproduct that is inspired by local art and popularculture combined with contemporary cuts andstyles that are designed to suit a niche Kenyanmarket. These features make the brand unique,

    not only from a Kenyan stand point but also inthe global arena, as they align to the sense ofpride that both nationals and foreigners livinghere have for the country.

    She couples this great product with uniquecustomer experiences that position the brandas the premier fashion industry promoter andthought leader, focused on developing local talentand cottage industries. Through this McCreathsupports a sustainable eco-system which pullsthe heart strings of the target audience and gainstheir devotion. The Festival for African Fashion& Arts (FAFA), is her brainchild that brings a

    large part of the industry players togetha number of events. One of those evfashion and accessories market that rua number of days and provides an oppofor customers to browse the latest itemthe local fashion industry and buy prodalso generates a tremendous amount of cshared on social media as customers take and videos of tantalising creations, whipost on their time lines and reach a high nu

    of interested shoppers.FAFA comes to a grand nale withfashion show that is one of the most annual lifestyle events in Kenya. With sponsors, local and global media supporteffective marketing effort, tickets to the eveasily sold out. It parades both establishupcoming designers with their latest lineerating excitement among customers, whshare photos and videos on social netwo

    The highlight is surprise appearanclebrity models consisting of media, msports celebrities as well as admired bleaders. Needless to say the seles andthat ll social media thereafter are highlying and trend for days to come.

    McCreath takes the user-rst approashe seeks to develop products and eveenergise her target audiences. For examinitiative to dress the Kenya Rugby Teama knack for implementing big ideas, standand leveraging on positive brand associastaging state-of-the-art fashion showsthe glitz and glamour she is able to leveraconnected world that thrives on user-gencontent, product endorsement and tradsocial media inuence.

    With a conscientious approach to ing people and promoting the industry shcustomers meaning and a deeper reaso

    brand-loyal and she has earned many awaher work, including being listed in the T

    Women Inuencing Africa by When you see interactive advertisin

    you understand why its not digital, virtrusive but rather a process that uses cretime and consistency to make an impact

    moments are few and far in between acant rely on these to run long term macommunications strategies. Instead relyrecency to build up your campaigns overt within your budgets, and let each cam

    build upon the last. As Rome wasnt bday, neither can you expect to turn youinto a household name overnight.Mr Otin is a digital marketing expeof The Collective - an interactive ad agenalso the President of PAMRO and the Chathe Advertising Standards Board of Ke

    Email: [email protected]

    Top fashion brands demonsinteractive advertising that w

    o attract customers,will be promotions,s and competitionsGumo.lly a supermarketretailers, both lo-

    al, are ghting for

    rate at which newening, especially inhows that they aree same consumers.n an area, chancesgive or take; mostailer (competitor)

    will open one in the same area.But even as the supermarket race

    heats up in Kenya, it has become dis-ruptive for residential small shop own-ers (kiosks).

    Consumers prefer the convenienceof shopping in bulk in a supermarket,rather than buying single items from a

    variety of kiosks. According to research conducted

    by GeoPoll, a mobile survey platform,over one weekend in the country titledSpending Habits and Perceptions of theEconomy in Kenya, Nigeria, and South

    Africa, 56 per cent of Kenyans would

    rather shop in a supermarket, with 35per cent shopping at a local kiosk.

    One such consumer is Faridah Mu-sango, who lives in Pipeline Estate inEmbakasi.

    In the building I live, there is a kioskon the ground oor, but I hardly evershop there.

    I prefer shopping at the supermar-ket across the road from the building,

    because I am able to compare prices ofthe different brands and I can take mytime shopping without worrying that Iam keeping people waiting in line.- AFRICAN LAUGHTER

    ace fo high-end shoppes

    Supermarket at Garden City Mall on Thika Superhighway in Nairobi. FILE

    T he 42 employees of wines and spirits groupPernod Ricard Kenya observed the com-panys corporate social responsibility day by assisting in transforming Ghetto Foundationsoffice facilities as well a